When a warden walks up to me in the field, as soon as I see him I unload my gun. That sets the tone for the rest of the 'encounter', and trust me, any grey area situation will be decided in the hunter's favor.

If it was up to me I’d give em a raise.

Probably real good advice.

Ive had stops on dove hunts by the federals. We stood aside while they counted our birds.

I wouldn’t touch my gun and would make my hands visible like courtesy on a traffic stop.

Had many encounters with GWs....never a bad expierence. Always positive...And I’ve received two tickets from them over the years. I deserved both.

^^^This is the ONLY way^^^
If you go racking a bolt on a weapon things could go south in a hurry.

I’ve only had one experience with a federal and it wasn’t good. We were dove hunting on a buddies place between Rotan and Hamlin. The warden pulled up and started issuing orders. We had a limit of dove and had quit shooting. We had two guys from out of state that had mesquite plugs in their guns. The fed jammed an extra shell in their guns and told them they were going to jail. The land owner told him he wasn’t taking anyone to jail and the fed got mouthy with him and told him he may go to jail too. The landowner was an 80 year old WW2 vet and asked him if he wanted to bet on it. Landowner called the county judge on his party line and handed the phone to the fed. A short conversation later he left and told us to have a goood day. I’m glad the judge was home because the old man was serious when he told the fed no one was going to jail that day, and paid us no mind when we told him to calm down.

I know all of the local wardens where I hunt and Fish and have never had a problem with any of them. They have a job to do and there’s no reason to be an arsehole. It’s also good to know an old man that’s lived in the same small county his whole life and doesn’t put up with any bullsht on his own property.

Had a lot of interactions with GW over the years. Only one bad experience. By and large, a great group of hard working people doing a tough, thankless job.

The local warden shows up at our hunting lease skinning shed two or three times each season, usually in late morning or right after dark. We give him a cup of coffee or a coke, shoot the bull for a while and get the poop on how other clubs in the area are doing.

I been doing that for years. I have my gun unloaded and license out befor they get to me.

Sounds too much like common sense.

Never had what I would call a bad experience with a TPWD officer. I did have one check me for my license while I was in work clothes working on a tractor. It didn't bother me much but the landowner didn't like it one bit.

As a kid growing up in Mississippi, never had a good experience with a MDWFP officer. The worst encounters happened when I was alone, with the last one involving an officer that looked like he came straight out of the movie "Deliverance". I got me chit and got out of there quickly with a careful choice of words.

Shoot, I hunt with our game warden! He's shot with us at 800 yard and 1 mile (while we hunted at the 780 yard feeder). He's also taken me duck hunting, and let his dog work the birds. Super nice guy and I'll invite him to come along anytime! He knows us well.

I was fishing this week on LBJ and got checked by the wardens for my license, fish size, and limit. As he was looking at license, he noticed I hunted in Cotulla. I'm glad I had the log filled out correctly. Nice guy and very professional. He was out of Lampasas.

Same here. Always resulted in a quick and courteous check.

I just unload when they are about 20 feet away, hand it to him or her with license asap, count some birds and get back to hunting a minute late. Got stopped 3 times 2 years ago in 3 counties on private fields and didn't take more than a minute total. They have 20 other folks to check. I ain't dropping my gun though since they want it right away. Especially in dirt!

Have only encountered the GW a few times, every time they were professional. The younger ones seem to be more engaging in small talk.

I usually keep shooting birds until he asks for my gun to check it. Never had a problem.

No different from being pulled over in your vehicle and placing both hands open on the steering wheel so the officer can see your hands.

My son is an LEO - he has always told me that folks he stops who are respectful and cooperate are way more likely to get a warning rather than a ticket.

I turn away from the GW if he's checking someone, point my gun in the opposite direction and unload my firearm

Always

Yep. I just break open my shotgun, set it down and wait.

The idea that you don't touch your shotgun while being checked by the warden is crazy. You've clearly never been checked by one in the field. they go from group to group and everyone hunts until they are talking with the man.

I've been checked multiple times (since 1974). As a law enforcement officer I am simply showing another law enforcement officer professional courtesy. Stop assuming about something you know nothing about.